Pierre Bourdon earned a degree in political science before deciding to make a career in perfumery. In 1971 he joined Roure Bertrand where he studied under Jean Carles. During his early years at Roure, he was also a protégé of perfumer Edmond Routnitska:
From then on, I met Roudnitska every Wednesday for a bicycle ride and every Sunday to run and have a session on olfaction while he corrected my work.1
Bourdon was later a co-founder of Takasago Europe. In the early 1990s he went to work for Quest; in the mid-1990s, he became the director of the Paris office of Creative Resources.
Pierre Bourdon announced his retirement in late 2007. In 2015, he introduced an eponymous niche line.
Fragrances created by Pierre Bourdon:
Canali for men (2005)
Christian Dior Dolce Vita (1995)
Chupa Chups Sensual Heaven (2005)
Davidoff Cool Water (1988)
Davidoff Cool Water Woman Freeze Me (2008)
Davidoff Good Life (1998)
Eau Jeune Double Je
Escada Escada (2005)
Escada Magnetic Beat (2003, with Steve DeMercado)
Escada Magnetism (2003, with Steve DeMercado)
Francesco Smalto Fullchoke (2005)
Frederic Malle French Lover (2007)
Frederic Malle Iris Poudre (2000)
Ghost Man
Gianfranco Ferré Bergamotto Marino (2005)
Gianfranco Ferré Ferré (2005)
Gianfranco Ferré Ferré for men (2006)
Gianfranco Ferre GF Ferre Bluemusk (2007)
Grigioperla Essence (2009)
Institut Tres Bien Cologne a la Francaise
Institut Tres Bien Cologne a la Russe
Institut Tres Bien Cologne a l’Italienne
Institut Tres Bien Tres Russe (2006)
Jean Charles Brosseau Jasmin-Lilas (2006)
Jean Charles Brosseau Thé Brun (2005)
Le Prince Jardinier Arboretum
Le Prince Jardinier Labyrinthe Libertin
Les Parfums de Rosine Le Magnolia de Rosine (2018, with Delphine LeBeau)
Les Parfums de Rosine Roseberry (1997)
L’Occitane Feuille d’ Herbe Light Green, Spicy, and Fresh Floral
Luciano Soprani D Luciano Soprani (2007)
Mark Birley for men
Mont Blanc Individuel for men (2003)
Parfums MDCI Ambre Topkapi (2006)
Paul & Joe Bleu (2003)
Romea d’Ameor Les Espionnes du Tsar (2008)
Romea d’Ameor Les Grandes Amours du Taj-Mahal (2008)
Romea d’Ameor Les Grandes Pretresses Incas (2008)
Romea d’Ameor Les Impératrices Japonaises (2008)
Romea d’Ameor Les Maitresses de Louis XIV (2008)
Romea d’Ameor Les Princesses de Venise (2008)
Romea d’Ameor Les Souveraines d’Egypte (2008)
Salvatore Ferragamo Tuscan Soul (2008)
Shiseido Feminite du Bois (1992, with Christopher Sheldrake)
Van Gils Basic Instinct
Worth Courtesan (2005)
Yves Saint Laurent Kouros (1981)
Yves Saint Laurent Live Jazz
Further reading:
See all articles on Now Smell This tagged Pierre Bourdon.
There is a very brief biography of perfumer Pierre Bourdon on the Frederic Malle website.
1. via Soap & Cosmetics, 3/1/2000.
Note: image via Frederic Malle.